Darfur peace mediation to be under UN-AU leadership
Nov 17, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — The joint UN AU meeting held last Thursday in headquarter of the African body here agreed to maintain the Darfur peace talks under the African Union, and on the basis of May peace agreement.
The UN – AU meeting stressed in its conclusions that the Darfur Peace Agreement inked between Khartoum and SLM- Minawi on 5 Mai is the only basis for the expected peace talks. It also clearly indicated that the mediation should be under AU and UN leadership.
This decision excludes the current peace initiatives carried by several countries in the region such as Eritrea and Libya.
Eritrea informed Sudan Saturday that that it had completed arrangements to convene Darfur talks on 20 November in Asmara.
Since the signing of eastern Sudan peace deal, president Omar al-Bashir agreed an Eritrean mediation with Darfur rebel groups opposed to the DPA.
On the other hand, some Darfur rebels reject totally to engage negotiations with the Sudanese government on the basis of the Darfur agreement.
“We are ready for talks with the government,” said Khalil Ibrahim, leader of the rebel JEM in October. “But we … will not just accept the Abuja agreement, we want separate talks.”
Ibrahim said he wanted a similar deal to one reached to end more than two decades of north-south civil war. He pleads for a regional autonomy and to give Darfur people more representativeity in the national level.
(ST)